Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria has comfortably won the FIDE World Chess Championship tournament in San Luis, Argentina. Dubbed Topadora (“Steamroller”) by the local press because of his total demolition of the rest of the field in the first half, Topalov was able to win with a round to spare by drawing all his remaining games. Topalov thoroughly earned the World Championship title with his daring and uncompromising play in the first half, and as each draw took him nearer the goal, it is hardly surprising he was content with this turn of events.
The pre-tournament favourite, India's Vishy Anand, recovered well in the second half from his two early losses and shared second place with Russia's Peter Svidler, while fourth went to another Russian, the mercurial Alexander Morozevich. The highly fancied Hungarian Peter Leko came next, having had his tournament derailed by a first round loss to Topalov. The defending champion, Rustam Kasimjanov of Uzbekistan faded toward the end after holding his own in this elite group for much of the tournament, and had to be content with a tie for sixth with the winless Michael Adams of England. Hungary's Judit Polgar, the strongest ever female player, looked underprepared in eighth and last place.
Official commentator for the event was former world championship challenger, grandmaster Nigel Short of England. He will be giving a simultaneous display at the Otago Chess Club on November 30th as part of an exhibition tour of New Zealand.
Today's game is from the penultimate round of San Luis. In holding on to draw against severe pressure from Kasimjanov, Topalov assured himself of outright first place.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf6 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
The Berlin Defence to the Ruy Lopez - a solid choice. 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Ne7
A plan popularised by Kramnik in his 2000 world championship match victory over Kasparov. Black repositions this N to g6 where it attacks the key squares e5 and f4, and develops his R on h8 by advancing the h-pawn. 10.h3 Ng6 11.Be3 Be7 12.Rad1+ Ke8 13.a3 h5 14.Rfe1 h4 15.Nd4
White plans f4 to fend the pawn on e5, since the immediate 15---Nxe5? 16 Bf4 f6 17 Bxe5 fxe5 18 Nf3 would be bad for Black. 15. --- a6 16.f4 Rh5 17.Ne4 Bd7
With a6 Black appeared to be aiming for 17---c5, but changes his mind. Each side now play to restrict the other's pawns. 18.c4 a5 19.c5 a4 20.Rc1! f5!
Courageously opening up the game, as White was threatening to win the pawn on a4 (Rc4 & Nc3). 21.exf6 Bxf6 22.f5 Ne7 23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.Bf4 Kf7 25.Bxc7 Nxf5 26.Rc4! Nxd4 27.Rxd4 Be6 28.Bd6 Ra5
Black's weak pawns on a4, b7 and h4 mean he will lose one soon, so he starts an ingenious R manouvre to obtain counterplay against b2 and g2. 29.Rde4 Bd5 30.Re7+ Kg6 31.Rxb7 Rb5! 32.Rb6
After 32 Rxb5 cxb5 White will have trouble advancing the c-pawn. 32. --- Rg5 33.Re2 Rb3 34.Kh2?!
Underestimating Black's chances – swapping rooks was better. 34. --- Re3 35.Rd2 Reg3!!
The exchange was sacrificed many times at San Luis – here Topalov rips the initiative from White and nearly turns the tables with his powerful R & B while White's R on b6 is out of play. Acceptance is forced. 36.Bxg3 hxg3+ 37.Kh1 Rf5 38.Rd1 Rf2 39.Rb8!
If 39 Rg1, then f5!-f4-f3 etc wins for Black! White must remove the Bishop. 39. --- f5 40.Rd8 Bxg2+ 41.Kg1 Bd5 By now a draw was sufficient to secure the title, else 41---Kg5!? was a risky winning try for Black. 42.R8xd5! cxd5 43.Rc1 Rxb2 44.c6 Rb8 45.Kg2 f4 46.Kf3 Kg5 47.h4+ Draw Agreed ½ - ½
Topalov steamrolls World Championship
Problem: Black to play and mate in 3.
Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria has comfortably won the FIDE World Chess Championship tournament in San Luis, Argentina. Dubbed Topadora (“Steamroller”) by the local press because of his total demolition of the rest of the field in the first half, Topalov was able to win with a round to spare by drawing all his remaining games. Topalov thoroughly earned the World Championship title with his daring and uncompromising play in the first half, and as each draw took him nearer the goal, it is hardly surprising he was content with this turn of events.
The pre-tournament favourite, India's Vishy Anand, recovered well in the second half from his two early losses and shared second place with Russia's Peter Svidler, while fourth went to another Russian, the mercurial Alexander Morozevich. The highly fancied Hungarian Peter Leko came next, having had his tournament derailed by a first round loss to Topalov. The defending champion, Rustam Kasimjanov of Uzbekistan faded toward the end after holding his own in this elite group for much of the tournament, and had to be content with a tie for sixth with the winless Michael Adams of England. Hungary's Judit Polgar, the strongest ever female player, looked underprepared in eighth and last place.
Official commentator for the event was former world championship challenger, grandmaster Nigel Short of England. He will be giving a simultaneous display at the Otago Chess Club on November 30th as part of an exhibition tour of New Zealand.
Today's game is from the penultimate round of San Luis. In holding on to draw against severe pressure from Kasimjanov, Topalov assured himself of outright first place.
1.e4 e5
2.Nf6 Nc6
3.Bb5 Nf6
The Berlin Defence to the Ruy Lopez - a solid choice.
4.0-0 Nxe4
5.d4 Nd6
6.Bxc6 dxc6
7.dxe5 Nf5
8.Qxd8+ Kxd8
9.Nc3 Ne7
A plan popularised by Kramnik in his 2000 world championship match victory over Kasparov. Black repositions this N to g6 where it attacks the key squares e5 and f4, and develops his R on h8 by advancing the h-pawn.
10.h3 Ng6
11.Be3 Be7
12.Rad1+ Ke8
13.a3 h5
14.Rfe1 h4
15.Nd4
White plans f4 to fend the pawn on e5, since the immediate 15---Nxe5? 16 Bf4 f6 17 Bxe5 fxe5 18 Nf3 would be bad for Black.
15. --- a6
16.f4 Rh5
17.Ne4 Bd7
With a6 Black appeared to be aiming for 17---c5, but changes his mind. Each side now play to restrict the other's pawns.
18.c4 a5
19.c5 a4
20.Rc1! f5!
Courageously opening up the game, as White was threatening to win the pawn on a4 (Rc4 & Nc3).
21.exf6 Bxf6
22.f5 Ne7
23.Nxf6+ gxf6
24.Bf4 Kf7
25.Bxc7 Nxf5
26.Rc4! Nxd4
27.Rxd4 Be6
28.Bd6 Ra5
Black's weak pawns on a4, b7 and h4 mean he will lose one soon, so he starts an ingenious R manouvre to obtain counterplay against b2 and g2.
29.Rde4 Bd5
30.Re7+ Kg6
31.Rxb7 Rb5!
32.Rb6
After 32 Rxb5 cxb5 White will have trouble advancing the c-pawn.
32. --- Rg5
33.Re2 Rb3
34.Kh2?!
Underestimating Black's chances – swapping rooks was better.
34. --- Re3
35.Rd2 Reg3!!
The exchange was sacrificed many times at San Luis – here Topalov rips the initiative from White and nearly turns the tables with his powerful R & B while White's R on b6 is out of play. Acceptance is forced.
36.Bxg3 hxg3+
37.Kh1 Rf5
38.Rd1 Rf2
39.Rb8!
If 39 Rg1, then f5!-f4-f3 etc wins for Black! White must remove the Bishop.
39. --- f5
40.Rd8 Bxg2+
41.Kg1 Bd5
By now a draw was sufficient to secure the title, else 41---Kg5!? was a risky winning try for Black.
42.R8xd5! cxd5
43.Rc1 Rxb2
44.c6 Rb8
45.Kg2 f4
46.Kf3 Kg5
47.h4+ Draw Agreed
½ - ½
Solution: 1 --- Nh3+! 2 gxh3 (2 Kh1 Rxf1#) Rg6+ 3 Kf2 Re2#